Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/289

 7'errie-Flius. N �hich afire to it from the prefent eltabliflment of -our uriaerfities. I fhall begin with the method oftakng which may ferve as  ffiplSkment to what I have offer'd, in my lal upon that rubieS. .. Iu that cl[fcourfe .I conrider'el only the rform'd for degrees; and endeavour'd to .prove, that ome fri&er tcl[ of merit ought to be required every candidate: but this is not the only thing to comhin'd of 5 for as thee pcrfunc%rv exercifes of. ten confer degrees on the mot worthldf, who x. ill conform to the prevailing opinions of the phce on the other hand, the fame exercifes, more ri perform'd, join'd with the ttronge abihties, mo unfutlied pobity, will not intitle tbme other men to them, who think themfelves obliged to clif- lent from their brethren in points of fIeculation or racice. This is certainly blame-worthy in all publick nut- S'  %vhere learning and indutlrv ought to be erl�. o a coura,,'d confider'd abltralv !rom the caorices and differences of mankind in matters m govern. rnenr and religion.-- But I am to prove what I havc afterted. There is in the university of �xrouo (and, for ought I know, in C.,uut too) adreadful regifer, cai!'d the Bt,^cc-Booc, (becaufe no peffon, name is cmol!'d n it, cgn Land for his degree,) which the lroors, for the time [eing, keep in their cuo- dy,'and can put any body into it at whom, whether jufily or not,they' fha!l take offence. rhis was .t tiff[ defgn'd to punifhrefrac%ry perf.?ns and immo- ral offende?s  but at prefent it is ma4e ufe of t6 rty fplren, and is illI'd up with Whigs, Confiitatio. nets, and ta,gorians. !, e a the univerfky has this rod in her hand, So .n  ,_ _ it i5 no onaer that High-Church triam?hs over her rnot'3.owerful adverfaries  nor can we be at all fur. Fri.'d

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